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We can still win this series

I know I just sound like an overly optimistic fan but I really do think we can and actually will pull this one out.

We have lost the last 2 games because we missed makeable shots and allowed offensive rebounds.

All it will take is a player like Pablo or Shump to come on even just in the next couple of games, if we can (and frankly we'll have to) win the next 2 then the series is ours!

I am pretty confident in a game 5 victory but we just need that game to kick start a couple of guys! Ideally JR and Shump

Also...Kidd is due and no way with the possibility of playing his last NBA game he goes out on a 0 for whatever! Kidd will get some buckets in game 5

We gotta stop double teaming Hibbert! Let him try to score 30+ and if he does and that's what beats us then I'll take it! But giving up wide open 3's and/or offensive rebounds because our rebounders are chasing guys off the 3pt line to double Hibbert is dumb!

I know we have the personnel to right the ship

Indy is due a loss at home, if we take them in Game 5 I think they get comfortable with a possible close out game at home like we did Boston! If it goes 7 then we got them by double digits!

I know this is extremely bold considering how we have played the past 2 games...but we have been down at times this season and have rallied!

That 4 game losing streak had guys on this site thinking we were gonna drop to 6th in the East, instead we came together and won 14 straight...again not saying their is not a ton of things that need correcting, but I think we can get those things corrected and we can pull it out.

think about every game knicks lost this year... Melo and/or JR not hitting,
stuck in iso mode.

think about every game knicks won, at beginning of year and 13 game win
streak. passing the ball, lots of assists. DEFENSITY.
#Knickstape = contributions from everyone, not just Melo/JR having a great game.

think about the other members of #Knickstape, that made this squad a TEAM,
and what they've contributed to this series (other than game 2):

Earl Barron. 18 rebounds in his only game played, perhaps he deserves a couple
minutes to show knicks how to block out?

agreed, if Shumpert has a good game, Felton returns to point guard form,
along with the Prigger actually getting minutes and scoring, the knicks stand
a good chance of winning.

a return to fundamentals must include boxing out, passing around the horn,
finding the open man, and stopping the iso-bs.

this is not optimism, it is a reality that is easily within reach.

Melo and JR must stop this I-I-I mentality, stop putting the team on their
back, and let the #Knickstape play like the #2 team in the east, the Atlantic
division champions, the 54 game winners they are.

I moved to New York from the UK 18 months ago and have become an avid Knicks fan. Fortunately for me I've not endured the barren years many of you will have so perhaps am able to give a slightly more positive perspective to the 2012-13 season as whole as it perhaps comes toward its end. But by the way its far from over yet....... you just need to look at last nights Bruins game to see how things can change unexpectedly.

54 wins and a first Atlantic Division win since 1994, a first play off series victory in 13 years, 4 wins in Boston in a season, Melo leading ppg scorer in the NBA, record 3 point shooting in NBA history, the return of excitement and expectation to MSG basketball crowds, the 6th man of the year (yeah I no I know), the much anticipated rivalry with the Brooklyn Nets to look forward to, a 13 game winning streak, thrilling victories in Miami twice and in Oklahoma and San Antonio.

So you know what things haven't been all bad. Reading the forum tonight a lot has been forgotten. Who will forget Shumps ridiculous recent dunk or the continual 3 point barrages or Melo's 45 in Brooklyn or indeed his 131 in 3 games in early April. Yes performances have dipped alarmingly in recent games and the problem its been too many of the roster at once but there is much to look back on with a sense that the Knicks are back.

Things have not gone well in this series and even perhaps since around Game 4 in Boston it has all been a bit of a struggle but things have transpired against us; Smith's complete loss of form, mental strength and capacity to live act and play with discipline, Chandler's inability to dominate anywhere close to what he is capable - he looks like he is lethargic and morose, Kidd's NO points in 8 games, Shumpert's suspect knee, Novak's dodgy back, Amare's por return all season, some dubious officiating and perhaps even scheduling - we had all the momentum after game 2 and had to wait 4 days to play in Indiana. Excuses can be found but the reality is not enough players have performed like we need them to up until this point. It can still change.

This is a young side who have little experience closing out series. We will win on Thursday, I'm sure of that. We will bounce back, they will be less intense and we will outscore them, I'll predict now Smith will have a good game. Then its back to Indiana and the pressure shifts to them, in a way we have little to lose. We can't play as poorly again as we have in 4 previous visits this season. Who knows, if we can just regain some shooting form. There is still hope, keep the heads up !!

Great performance tonight by Copeland to be the spark off the bench and hit some much needed 3's....also hustled his ass off.

We have extended the season by a game with the win tonight. If Indiana knows what's best for them....they better come out guns blazing Saturday night.....cause if we can get to a game 7, we ain't losing! 1 day and game at a time

NO DOUBT we are the better shooting team and they are best Defensive team...but what happened in Game 5 was the PACERS remarkable offensive performance in Game 4 was absent as they were hitting 3's ; out rebounded us 54 to 32; and they were the THUGS.
Then we became the THUGS, we held out own on the boards -2 , and were better but not good scoring the ball. In Game 6 we must take their crowd out of it by opening up a lead from the GITGO. The mantra must be make the extra pass and hit the open man.

Is it me or are the refs deciding these games. I mean Chandler was getting away with pushoffs, border line flagrant fouls, and holds on Hibbert all night. IF he was in Indiana he would of had 4 fouls in less than 2 quarters?

With that being said, does the NBA really want an Indy Knicks Series, bad enough they have a Memphis/San Antonio series. We saw it all the time in the 80's especially in 2 -3- 2 Series. Those playoffs always went to 7 games!

Hopefully the Knicks will play Copeland, like they should have all series, and 'eek out a win saturday night. Vey hard place for the Knicks to win as well.

Can the Knicks win this series vs Pacers? YEAH! with a strong team-effort, and Woodson having confidence in 13 players rather than just two players.
We have the better roster of players, we just need our players to compliment each other on defense, on offense/defense-rebounds, and ball movement. We are not a small-ball team or small rotation team in this series vs Pacers, we have to play BIG using a 10 man rotation to stay out of foul trouble by the 4th quarter.

When Amare comes in he must establish himself early in the low post as well. That will give some relief to JR so that maybe he won't chuck up so many wild shots and can drive the lane and at least get some fouls if not the basket.